Innovation Success Stories
4-Blade SpeculumBack OffZipformPreventing Suspension TraumaWrapright Sleep TightSpeed EaveTap Valves
4-Blade Speculum
Dr David Wang, a Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Royal North Shore Hospital, was keen to move forward with a new generation medical instrument he had developed.
Dr Wang approached the Sydney Innovation Advisory Service for support. He discussed options to commercialise his invention and was offered a subsidised Innovation Market Review of his invention.
The instrument, a 4-Blade speculum Dr Wang developed, is used in examination and treatment procedures and offers many benefits, particularly for obese patients.
The instrument offers significant advantages when compared with other models. This is because it uses a simple, improved design which gives the practitioner enhanced visibility while reducing patient discomfort.
The new speculum will substantially reduce the trauma of examinations and thus encourage more patients to take up clinical procedures such as pap smears.
The support provided to for Dr Wang is yet another example of an inventor moving ahead with the commercialsiation of their product.
Dr Wang, and other inventors in the State, can avail themselves of Innovation Advisory Services thanks to support provided by the New South Wales Department of State and Regional Development.
Any original concept, new or improved device, product, material, business process or service, falls within the definition of innovation, and is considered for assistance at the NSW Innovation Advisory Services.
The Innovation Advisory Service offers access to free self-assessment software, free commercialisation advice and referrals, as well as low-cost technical assessments and market reviews.
If you want more information go to www.ausinvent.com to learn how the self-assessment software works, and the full range of advice and support available.
Read up on the latest news and events, look at a virtual exhibition space and browse links to other innovation websites.
For further information on the program and the Innovation Advisory Service, contact the Department of State and Regional Development on 1300 134 359, visit www.ausinvent.com, or contact Sydney Innovation Advisory Service, phone 9415 2630, email becn@bigpond.net.au, website www.becnorthside.com.au.
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Back off
A personal security professional, Brent Sanders did everything by the book to progress his invention - a portable security device for women aptly named "Back off".
This included, at an early stage, completing the self-assessment questionnaire on the Ausinvent website to gauge the device’s likelihood of success. Brent then contacted the Sydney Innovation Advisory Service where Neil Davidson arranged for an expert technical assessment, which resulted in a number of specific recommendations, and referred him to a patent attorney for free advice.
Since then, Brent has been working with an industrial design company on a prototype of the device - a moulded hand-held unit that combines an LED torch with an alarm. When the device is in armed mode, the alarm will go off with minimal pressure. Brent has also registered "Back off" as a trade mark.
“My next steps will be a patent application and letting a manufacturing tender,” says Brent.
“At this stage I’m planning a mid-2008 launch for the device.
“Sales will initially be via the web while I use my media profile to ramp up interest (Brent has appeared on Channel 7’s Sunrise Show), after which I’ll approach a couple of major Australian chain stores.
“Selling Back off overseas is the ultimate goal.”
ContactSydney Innovation Advisory ServicePhone: 9415 2630Email: becn@bigpond.net.auWebsite: www.becnorthside.com.au
Zipform - one invention, multiple applications
Zipform, developed by mechanical engineer Dr Sander Kroes, is a revolutionary means of forming
“Zipform is suitable for structures that must be assembled and disassembled quickly and frequently,” said Dr Kroes. “After use, the Zipform structure can to be rolled up for easy transportation and storage.
“There are potential applications for Zipform in numerous industries, but at the moment we are concentrating on defence, construction and packaging. The packaging industry looks exciting as the Zipform structure has impact absorbing properties and, manufactured from cardboard, would prove an eco friendly alternative to polystyrene.”
Dr Kroes received help in the development phase from the Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service.
“It gave initial guidance and later answered specific questions on patent and commercialisation issues, including recommendations on patent attorneys specialising in engineering applications. The Service’s workshops on commercialisation and intellectual property also helped me to understand the full process and how decisions made early on can affect what happens later.”
Dr Kroes has filed an international patent application for Zipform.
Contact details: Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service, phone 4223 3100, email innovations@illawarritec.com.au, website www.illawarraitec.com.au,
Preventing suspension trauma
While fall prevention harnesses prevent lethal impact injuries, workers suspended in a harness run the risk of shock and unconsciousness due to blood accumulating in their legs. This can occur within a few minutes. However, three people with professional knowledge of working at heights and suspension trauma have invented a device that will potentially improve worker safety.
Their suspension trauma prevention device takes the weight of a suspended worker’s body and allows them to maintain normal blood flow by exercising their legs. The design accommodates different body heights and weights and allows the worker to move freely when the device is not in use.
There are other advantages says Neville Pearson, one of the co-inventors. “It’s easy to activate when needed and can be retrofitted to fall prevention harnesses currently in use. We see the device as a world-wide product that could sell up to 300,000 units in Australia alone.”
In supporting the inventors as they move towards commercialisation, the Illawarra Innovation Advisory Centre has advised on the patent process and the need for testing to establish the device’s performance characteristics. The Centre also assisted in organising a meeting with a potential licensee.
Having decided not to follow the licensing path, the inventors are now looking for an Australian manufacturer for the suspension trauma prevention device.
Contact details: Illawarra Innovation Advisory Service, phone 4223 3100, email innovations@illawarritec.com.au, website www.illawarraitec.com.au.
Wrap Right Sleep Tight
The mother of three young sons, Elizabeth Mulheron, knows how important it is to wrap a baby securely for a longer and better sleep. So when she found her own skills inadequate she had the idea for Wrap Right Sleep Tight - a heart-shaped cotton wrap that makes getting baby ready for sleep a simple task.
Tucked up in Wrap Right Sleep Tight“I tested the wrap on my youngest son and friends’ babies and went through a number of different versions before finalising the design,” says Elizabeth. “What I eventually came up with was a product that anyone can use, no matter how inexpert they are at wrapping.
Tucked up in Wrap Right Sleep Tight
“The next step was to make sure that I had the groundwork right in terms of patent and legal issues. The Business Advisory Service at Parramatta put me in touch with the Sydney Innovation Advisory Centre and I had a number of useful meetings with them. I’ve since had my international patent application approved.
“At present the Centre is helping me to examine manufacturing options, as I would ideally like to get the price down.”
Elizabeth is selling Wrap Right Sleep Tight through her website www.wraprightsleeptight.com and promoting the product to private hospitals. It’s available in four sizes in a number of different fabric patterns.
Contact details: Sydney Innovation Advisory Service, phone 9415 2630, email becn@bigpond.net.au, website www.becnorthside.com.au.
Speed Eave makes joining panels an easy task
After helping a friend install eave sheeting on a patio, Kevin Williams and Alan Taylor, from Bonny Hills near Port Macquarie, came up with a simpler way to join building panels.
Together they have established Coastal Innovations to develop Speed Eave, a plastic strip that clips into place to join a broad range of sheeting panels, including fibre cement eave panels.
The new product has residential, industrial and commercial applications. As well as being less expensive, Speed Eave is more durable than existing strip joiners and much easier to install.
Alan Taylor's first step was to consult the Hunter Innovation Advisory Service - delivered by the Industry Development Centre (Hunter) Ltd (IDC).
"What I liked about the Centre,'' Mr Taylor said, "is that they sorted out the situation to make sure the person who'd had the idea, Kevin, wasn't disadvantaged.''
He said he also felt confident dealing with the Hunter Innovation Advisory Service as it was a NSW Government sponsored initiative. With the advice of the IDC, Coastal Innovations searched for existing patents and commissioned a market review (partially subsidised by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development). The news was positive, although Mr Taylor said it took the commercial expertise of the IDC to point that out to him.
The company developed a prototype and made a DVD showing just how easy Speed Eave was to install. The IDC showed the DVD to a large building company that was enthusiastic about the new material.
So were the judges of the Building on Bright Ideas Award, hosted by the Hunter Innovation Advisory Service with the assistance of the NSW Department of State and Regional Development. Speed Eave was the winner of the inaugural Building on Bright Ideas Award in 2006.
The IDC is now helping Coastal Innovations set up licensing agreements with a Sydney manufacturer, and Mr Taylor said agreements with New Zealand and Canadian manufacturers were in the pipeline.
The company has also registered patents in Europe, Britain, Japan, the US and the Middle East.
Contact details: Hunter Innovation Advisory Service, phone 1800 995 299 or email innovation@idc-hunter.org.au.
Tap valves a water saver
When John Fenwicke's farm at Walcha near Armidale was short of water for home use during a drought, he came up with the Eazy Saver – Water Saving Tap Valve.
By changing the degree to which the valve is tightened, water flow can be increased or decreased. The tap valve helps buildings comply with the BASIX code, the NSW Government's building sustainability index, and during trials an unexpected bonus was discovered - it stops water hammer.
When Mr Fenwicke noticed people putting the valve in upside down, he had another idea. If he put a washer at both ends of the Eazy Saver valve, both ways were right side up. When the tap began dripping, the valve could simply be inverted.
He worked at his lathe and within a week had a prototype for the Double-Ended Tap Valve, which became a finalist in the Hunter Innovation Advisory Service's Building on Bright Ideas Award in 2006 and a contender on the ABC's The New Inventors program.
Having been down the invention road before with less than success, Mr Fenwicke asked the Hunter Innovation Advisory Service, delivered by the Industry Development Centre (Hunter) Ltd (IDC) to help him get his tap valves to market.
"To get it on the market is a big hurdle. That's where the advisory service and IDC’s commercialisation services come in. They can present it to potential manufacturers and licensees," Mr Fenwicke said. He also wanted to be sure his invention would remain his idea.
The IDC conducted an international patent search and market review for Mr Fenwicke. The market review (partially subsidised by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development) identified a number of Australian manufacturers and distributors for the product, and the next step is to negotiate licensing agreements.
Mr Fenwicke is confident his invention will also find a market overseas.
"Taps are the same everywhere in the world, and water saving is only going to become more important globally,'' he said.